Brenda Shoffner: Crestview author returns to kingdoms under the sea

Published: Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 09:33 AM.

As often happens, the day my column about books went to press, Anna Banks contacted me.

It’s all good, though, because none of those books were by local authors.

Banks, however, is a Crestview author who broke out of the pack last year with her debut young adult novel, “Of Poseidon.”

She continues the story about merpeople, called Syrena, and humans in the sequel released this week, “Of Triton.”

Both books are published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan. The 246-page sequel retails for $17.99.

Banks kindly sent an advance reader’s copy to me, and I couldn’t wait to soak it up.

At the end of the first book — spoiler alert — main character Emma has just learned her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess of the Syrena.

“Of Triton” picks up the story of Emma’s identity crisis — not belonging to either world now, above or below the sea, and the turmoil created by the sudden reappearance of the princess.

Two kingdoms, Poseidon and Triton, are at odds and lives are at stake, including Emma’s.

Also in jeopardy is the romance between Emma and Galen, her Syrena boyfriend.

As you might expect, much more of the action this time takes place under water in “Of Triton,” which sparkles with the same charm and sense of adventure as did “Of Poseidon.”

Nevertheless, Banks again weaves some local references into her fast-paced, easy-to-read prose, including the Gulfarium and Destin.

If you enjoyed “Of Poseidon,” you will enjoy “Of Triton.” And if you’d like to meet Banks and have her autograph a copy of her book for you, she will be at Books-A-Million in Panama City on Friday and at Barnes & Noble in Destin on Saturday.

Check the book briefs for more details and a photograph of her new book.

Banks will join three other YA authors on a national tour that starts June 4.

“This is my favorite part of being an author,” she said in an email, “meeting fans everywhere!”
With these two gems under her fin, there will be schools of Anna Banks fans.
 
I spent much of the recent holiday weekend sitting on a porch within earshot of the gulf surf and reading Stephen King’s “Under the Dome.”

It checks in at 1,074 pages counting the Author’s Note at the end.

I wanted to finish it before the CBS summer series based on it begins June 24.

It’s a humdinger of a story with a collection of memorable characters including a feisty newspaper editor named Julia, a genius teenager named Joe and a kind-hearted sheriff’s wife named Brenda.

I liked “Under the Dome” and hope the TV version does it justice.

There are, however, multiple incidents in the book I’d just as soon not see depicted. Violence pervades “Under the Dome” as it does many of King’s works.

The overall plot is more than a little “Twilight Zone”-ish, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you see the bigger picture and larger truths King is trying to convey.

Without Rod Serling to point them out, though, you might miss them.
 
One last book-related note: The Book Rack, a used paperback store in Fort Walton Beach, will close early at 2 p.m. Saturday because of heavy traffic expected along U.S. 98 associated with Bowlegs festival activities.
So, get your pirate on. Aargh!

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As often happens, the day my column about books went to press, Anna Banks contacted me.

It’s all good, though, because none of those books were by local authors.

Banks, however, is a Crestview author who broke out of the pack last year with her debut young adult novel, “Of Poseidon.”

She continues the story about merpeople, called Syrena, and humans in the sequel released this week, “Of Triton.”

Both books are published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan. The 246-page sequel retails for $17.99.

Banks kindly sent an advance reader’s copy to me, and I couldn’t wait to soak it up.

At the end of the first book — spoiler alert — main character Emma has just learned her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess of the Syrena.

“Of Triton” picks up the story of Emma’s identity crisis — not belonging to either world now, above or below the sea, and the turmoil created by the sudden reappearance of the princess.

Two kingdoms, Poseidon and Triton, are at odds and lives are at stake, including Emma’s.

Also in jeopardy is the romance between Emma and Galen, her Syrena boyfriend.

As you might expect, much more of the action this time takes place under water in “Of Triton,” which sparkles with the same charm and sense of adventure as did “Of Poseidon.”

Nevertheless, Banks again weaves some local references into her fast-paced, easy-to-read prose, including the Gulfarium and Destin.

If you enjoyed “Of Poseidon,” you will enjoy “Of Triton.” And if you’d like to meet Banks and have her autograph a copy of her book for you, she will be at Books-A-Million in Panama City on Friday and at Barnes & Noble in Destin on Saturday.

Check the book briefs for more details and a photograph of her new book.

Banks will join three other YA authors on a national tour that starts June 4.

“This is my favorite part of being an author,” she said in an email, “meeting fans everywhere!”
With these two gems under her fin, there will be schools of Anna Banks fans.
 
I spent much of the recent holiday weekend sitting on a porch within earshot of the gulf surf and reading Stephen King’s “Under the Dome.”

It checks in at 1,074 pages counting the Author’s Note at the end.

I wanted to finish it before the CBS summer series based on it begins June 24.

It’s a humdinger of a story with a collection of memorable characters including a feisty newspaper editor named Julia, a genius teenager named Joe and a kind-hearted sheriff’s wife named Brenda.

I liked “Under the Dome” and hope the TV version does it justice.

There are, however, multiple incidents in the book I’d just as soon not see depicted. Violence pervades “Under the Dome” as it does many of King’s works.

The overall plot is more than a little “Twilight Zone”-ish, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you see the bigger picture and larger truths King is trying to convey.

Without Rod Serling to point them out, though, you might miss them.
 
One last book-related note: The Book Rack, a used paperback store in Fort Walton Beach, will close early at 2 p.m. Saturday because of heavy traffic expected along U.S. 98 associated with Bowlegs festival activities.
So, get your pirate on. Aargh!